It’s no secret we love greens, and with Summer coming in hot, they are pretty much all around. Blooms are budding, birds are chirping, and growth is happening. But even though we love greenery, we are the first to admit that keeping plants happy can be a full-time job. How much water is too much water? Where will they get the sunlight they need? What should the soil look like? It’s all too easy to squander your hopes and dreams for a seed with the slightest touch from a black thumb.

Photography by Allie Mullin Photography

So, in an effort to find a plant that has a little bit of chill and a lot of growth potential, we consulted with our friends at The ZEN Succulent. The ZEN Succulent is a modern terrarium and plant craft business with a cozy shop in downtown Durham, created and run by the mother/daughter team of Margaret and Megan George. The shop’s items combine their soil with locally sourced plants and terrarium elements from harvesters and fabricators in the Philippines, Japan, and throughout North America.

ZEN Succulent’s dynamic duo have clued us in to an alternative to buds that are more temperamental – air plants. Air plants grow on top of surfaces rather than in the ground, and while there are many species that exist under this umbrella, one of the most typical is in the genus Tillandsia. In comparison with a lot of other plant options, these are relatively easy to keep alive.

Key Air Plant Parenting Tips:

- Plenty of bright, indirect light!

Ideally, these would be hanging in your North or West facing windows for just the right amount of sunshine.

- Watering every once in a while!

Air plants don’t need to be watered daily, and can survive happily off of a mist once or twice a week. Too much water can cause them trouble, so avoid being too heavy-handed.

- Let them eat!

This step is not a “must,” but will leave your air plant looking vibrant and encourage it to bloom. Air plant food is easy to find (our friends at the ZEN Succulent carry it), and comes in the form of a fertilizer you spritz them with, preferably on a monthly basis.

Awesome Humans is a series highlighting those around us who make our communities better, our dreams bigger, and our happiness greater.

Intro to Kathy

Kathy Smith is the founder of Yoga Off East, Happy + Hale Durham’ s sister studio. Yoga Off East is first and foremost a neighborhood yoga studio, offering vinyasa-inspired yoga classes 7-days a week.

Photo Credit: Bethany and Dan Photography

The Interview

How did you get here?

My career path has always been rooted in athletics – years before owning Yoga Off East, I was a college tennis coach. My husband’s job as the coach of the Duke’s men’s tennis team brought me to Durham. My experience with yoga up to that point had always been as a competitive athlete or coach. Yoga taught me to stay out of my own way by having more awareness of the myriad of thoughts going through my mind on the tennis court, and eventually that translated into almost every aspect of life.

Moving to NC gave me time to dive into yoga for myself for the first time as a top priority. Even though I wasn’t a yoga teacher at the time, I had a crazy vision to open a studio near campus and serve the Duke community through yoga. One thing led to another: I got certified as a yoga teacher, built relationships in the wellness community, and Yoga Off East became a reality after a mentor and fellow yoga teacher introduced me to Happy + Hale.

My vision from the start was to create a sanctuary in the bustling area of Ninth Street where our neighbors and community-at-large can come to reset and build a ritual of yoga into their weekly routine. I’d love for Yoga Off East to be in the service of supporting our teachers and our students to be clear that they have a special gift to share, and for the practice of yoga to be a support in the sharing of those gifts in the world.

What did you think you were going to be when you grew up?

A pro tennis player when I was little, then a veterinarian, then a magazine editor/writer. Truthfully, though, I have always been drawn to the idea of being a small business owner.

My superpower is that I don't get caught up in drama. I don’t operate well in that space so I try to avoid it. One of my favorite quotes is by Virginia Woolf: “I am rooted, but I flow.”

How do you stay inspired?

My own practice of yoga keeps me inspired, especially meditation and challenging vinyasa classes. I am also inspired by reading and writing. If all else fails, I recharge by taking my dog, Sage, on a walk alone.

What do you feel most proud of?

My family – my husband, two kids, and our dog…and beyond that my extended family including 4 nephews and 11 nieces!

What does the local community mean to you?

Yoga is evolving, and so is my relationship with the local community. If I didn’t feel a deep connection to Durham, Yoga Off East would not exist. This is the city where we live, work, and now are raising children, and it’s important to me to share a space with the community where I can be a stand for others to show up and be their best self.

What is your “why?”

My why is because the world is wonderful and I believe we should rise up to it, be well, and do good.

We get asked constantly where our juice pulp goes. Back to the Earth, of course! Not only do we compost our juice pulp, but ALL of our food scraps as well as our post-consumer wares (bowls, plates, cups, lids, straws, napkins, etc). Is it expensive? Yup. Is it a lot of work? Absolutely. Is it worth it? You bet!

With the help of Urban Farmer Lester Clay and our friends at Compost Now we are able to divert hundreds of pounds of compostable material from the landfill every week. Get the dirt, below >>

It is first important to note that we are dealing with two types of compost: Pre-consumer and post-consumer.

Pre-Consumer

Each and every week our restaurants create hundreds of pounds of food waste. Between dense juice pulp and assorted food scraps (think banana peels, egg shells, red pepper stems, coffee grounds, onion peels, dino kale stems) we are constantly filling up buckets of rich, organic matter that many will haul straight to the dumpster. Not us! From here Lester will be by to scoop up our buckets and take to the community garden at Passage Home in Downtown Raleigh. This is where things get messy, and fun.

Food scraps. It all starts here.

Post-Consumer

Bowls, lids, cups, straws, straw wrappers, forks, spoons, knives...all of it...we compost it all! All of our post-consumer wares are plant-based and come from Eco Products. After you're done enjoying that quinoa bowl or Almond Brothers smoothie, drop your "trash" into one of our compost receptacles. The crew at Compost Now will be by soon to transport to a commercial facility. There, your wares will begin to break down until fully degraded into the soil, typically a four month process. Magic!

Whether it’s after a long day in the office, first thing in the morning, or squeezed into the middle of your day, putting your feet to the pavement and running it out is some of the cheapest and most effective therapy around. We are so fortunate to be based in the southeast, where the winters are mild and the running trails are open pretty much all year long. Time to lace up those sneakers though, because spring is budding. The Triangle is home to many winding, shaded trails and picturesque loops. We've compiled some of our favorites with the help of our favorite running experts, the Runologie Raleigh crew.

1)Neuse River Greenway (Raleigh to Clayton)

*Runologie pick!

A fairly new addition to Raleigh's Capital City Greenway, the Neuse River Greenway is fairly flat, which most Raleigh runners welcome with open arms. It has some of the best foot bridges in town, and is incredibly scenic with the Neuse River nearby for its entire 30+ miles. Pro tip: In the summer, be sure to stop around mile 23.5 for fields upon fields of sunflower blooms!

2)Lake Lynn Park (Raleigh)

This looped trail is a little over two miles long, making it the perfect quick jaunt to help you earn those endorphins. Parking is easy and the trail is fairly flat, plus the proximity to the lake makes for a motivating backdrop.

3) Dorthea Dix Park (Raleigh)

*Runologie pick!

From Runologie, we often head straight down Boylan Ave for a signature view of the skyline and then into one of Raleigh's greatest assets, Dorthea Dix Park. Dix Park has some of the best views of downtown, incredible hills to get those legs turning, and vast open spaces. With the park being less than a mile from downtown you get the best of both worlds -- views of our great city and beautiful scenery. Pro tip: Run down Barbour Drive for a good downhill with an stellar view.

4)William B. Umstead State Park (Raleigh and Cary)

*Runologie pick!

Another special park within Raleigh's reach, almost any trail is a good one in Umstead. From wide bridal paths to the narrow and rocky ups and downs of the Loblolly Trail, Umstead is a must add to your weekly workouts.

5) NCMA (Raleigh)

*Runologie pick!

The trails and greenways around the North Carolina Museum of Art are one of kind. Nature, art, and architecture can all be experienced around NCMA making it a truly unique spot in Raleigh. You can literally stumble onto some of Raleigh's best art in the woods on this route. It also has some of the best hills in town.

6)American Tobacco Trail (Durham and Apex)

Sprawling 22 miles, the American Tobacco Trail is a running hot spot that showcases a little bit of everything NC has to offer. You’ll be running through the trees one minute, and on a bridge crossing over the highway the next.

7 ) Fayetteville Street at Mt. Hope Cemetery (Raleigh)

*Runologie pick!

Fayetteville Street, a main axis of downtown Raleigh, continues out of downtown and a great hidden gem lies at the crest of Fayetteville Street and Mt. Hope Cemetery. You can easily hop on the Capital City Greenway to get in a good loop around the city and then circle onto Fayetteville Street past the cemetery for a breathtaking (perhaps quite literally) view. Pro tip: Here, you're running alongside history -- Mt. Hope has an incredible past having been established in 1872 as a primarily African American Cemetery.

8)Al Buehler Trail (Durham)

If you like a run that makes you work, the Al Buehler Trail might be for you. This trail winds through Duke Forest and comes in at just under 3 miles. Plentiful trees mean shade is in no short supply, but fair warning – the hills are plentiful, too!

At Happy + Hale, it’s no secret – we love juice. Be it red, yellow, green, orange, purple…juicing is a healthy way to work sources of energy, vitamins, and minerals into your diet. Glance over our menu or scour the web for recipes of your own and you’re likely to find one ingredient that keeps stepping in to spice things up: ginger.

As a flavor, ginger was traditionally seen in Asian, African, and Indian-influenced dishes. It also has a history of being used in many cultures as a means of natural medicine. A little bit of ginger goes a long way to add earthy, warm, and spicy flavors to any dish or drink.

Don’t be mistaken though – ginger brings a lot more than zest to the table. In fact, we’ve made a running list of its superpowers.

Anti-Inflammatory

Gingerol, which is the active compound in ginger, is a well-known anti-inflammatory agent. Studies have even gone so far to point out that consuming ginger regularly can help with pain, swelling, and mobility in those with arthritis.

Anti-Cancer

Ginger’s inherent anti-inflammatory properties also make it a weapon against cancerous cells. The University of Michigan Medical School has perhaps the most compelling research to make this case, with data that points to ginger helping to prevent colon cancer by keeping gut inflammation under control. Plus, antioxidants in ginger can contribute to other types of cancer protection.

Anti-Nausea

In many cultures, ginger tea is used to calm stomachaches. Not to mention its potential to soothe nausea, vomiting, and motion sickness.

Immunity Boost

Ginger is immunity’s dream sidekick. As a naturally antimicrobial food, it blocks troublesome microorganisms like bacteria and fungi. As if that wasn’t enough, ginger also awakens specialized white blood cells that can actively destroy viruses and tumor cells.

Digestion Boost

Ginger helps to neutralize stomach acid and contains certain enzymes that make it easier for the stomach to break down protein.

Circulation Boost

Ginger can help expand blood vessels, making blood circulation easier and more fluid while preventing issues such as blood clots and high cholesterol.

The best part about ginger is that the list could go on. Beyond all of the practical ways ginger can improve health, it is also likely to improve skin and hair. No wonder we slip a little of it into almost every juice. The spice is right…

It's hard to believe it's been almost two years since we first set foot on the streets of Greenville, SC. New York Times named it the #12 place to visit in the WORLD in 2017 and we couldn't be more excited to open our doors in the Spring! The concrete floors were poured last week and we are ready for framing. If all goes according to plan we'll be dishing out healthy fuel by early April...fingers crossed - Team H+H

Antioxidants: We know we want them, but why? They have snuck their way onto labels and menus as a health and food industry buzzword, but what, exactly, is the buzz about? Trust us when we say this: they are not overhyped!

Antioxidants occur naturally in plant-based foods like veggies and fruits, plus some of your favorite earthy treats like coffee, tea, chocolate, and even wine. To understand them fully, it’s helpful to know what they are up against ­— oxidation.

Oxidation, in the plainest terms possible, is oxygen’s interaction with cells. Think iron rusting or guacamole browning. Oxidation (or oxidants) within your body is 100 percent natural and even necessary, but it’s not always perfect. Sometimes, oxidation causes cell damage, turning cells into what are known as free radicals. For context, it can be helpful to note that free radicals also stem from sun exposure, cigarette smoke, alcohol, and pollution. Read: They are the bad guys!

Too many free radicals building up over time have the potential to be permanently damaging to cells. Many scientists believe that free radicals can contribute to the aging process as well as certain diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.

This is where antioxidants swoop in to earn their buzz. Antioxidants are a natural, power-packed way to counteract the damage caused by free radicals. Their superpowers include stopping chain reactions in their tracks and defending the body against compromised health.

Before you run out to stock up on antioxidant supplements, though, remember that balance is key. Health-wise, it’s actually ideal to have a good balance of oxidants and antioxidants. It’s near impossible to overload on antioxidants with food and drink alone, so it’s advisable to get your dose of antioxidants through bright fruits, veggies, and other natural sources. We’re thinking blueberries, bananas, pineapples, grapefruit, red peppers, beets, kale…the list could go on. Cue your stomach growling. Not to mention a little chocolate thrown in for good measure…